Beastus b



' (No Model.)

B. B. BARKER.

PHOTOGRAPHIG CAMERA BOX.

No. 283,952. Patented Aug. 28,- 1883.-

M J N m wm 'VETITNBSSES JMufM/f same, showing the camera-box reversed or retive view of one of my improved guidingexample E is the lens-frame, which slides up vertical lengths; also to facilitate the leveling ofthe camera-box independently of its sup- ERASTUS B. BAR-KER, OF NFNV YORK,

PHOTOGRAPHIC PATENT OFFICE.

Y., ASSIGNOB TO n. a n. r. ANTHONY & 00., or SAME PLACE. x I

CAMERA -BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,952, dated August 28, 1883.

Application filed May 17, 1883. (No model.) a

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERASTUS B. BARKER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new an d useful Improvements in Photographic OameraBoxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The obj eot of this invention is to facilitate the reversal of the camera-box and its plateholder and ground glass for the purpose of taking pictures of different horizontal and porting-stand. p

The invention consists in mounting the camera-box upon a circular support, whereby the box may be instantly reversed and adjusted to any desired position; also in a novel construction of the circular support and of its guiding-clamps, all of which I will now proceed fully to describe.

. Referring to the drawings, in which the same letters indicate similar parts in each figure, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a camera-box, showing my improvement thereto attached, with the box arranged in position for taking pictures that are longer vertically than horizontally. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the volved and the plate-holder brought into position for taking pictures that are longer horizontally than vertically. Fig. 3 is a perspecclamps, showing circular support working therein.

The camera-box, focusing-frame, plate-holder, bellows, under frame, and running-gear are constructed in the ordinary manner. and require no special description.

A is the usual under frame, on which moves the ordinary transverse slide B, that carries the rear end of the camera-box 0. Slide B is adjusted and held in position by the screwnuts a b in the ordinary manner. The bellows D,of usual f0rm,is attached at its front end by a suitable revolving joint to the back of suitable lens holder or frame. In the present and down between two posts, F F. The mode of attachment of the front end of the bellows to the lens-frame E is such that it permits the camera-box O and the bellows D to be revolved,

the attachment being the same as that shown in Patent No. 272,622, granted to me February 20, 1883. As the devices and mode of attaching the front end of the bellows to the lens- 5 frame are fully described and illustrated in said patent no further description thereof is here necessary. Any other desired form of attachment between the front end of the bellows and the lens-holder that permits the bellows to be revolved may be employed.

In my present improvement I interpose between the slide B and the camera-box O a circular support, G, which, in the present example, consists of a stout hoop of metal, attached by screws 0 c c to the corners of the camera-box C, as shown in the drawings. The edges of the circular support G are held and governed by the guiding-clamps H, one of which is secured on each side of the slide B,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The particular construction of the clamp H is illustrated in Fig. 3. The clamp H consists of a bar made with a central open recess and a groove at each end, through which the circular support G moves. Passing through one end of the clamp against support G is a binding-screw, h, by which the support G may be clamped and held in any desired position. The clamps H are provided with screw-holes 8o e,whereby they may be attached to the slide B.

I I are the usual springs attached to the camerabox for supporting the plate-holder and focusing-glass.

The operation of my improvement is as follows: When the camera-box O is arranged inthe position shown in Fig. 1, the longer axis of the picture will be vertical. If, now, it is desired to take a picture having its long axis horizontal, or coincident with the horizon, it 0 is only necessary to loosen the screws h h, and then with the hand turn the camera-box from the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 to the horizontal position shown in Fig; 2. The screws h are then screwed up so as to bind 5 against the circular support G, and the camerabox is thus set and locked in its new position.

It will readily be understood from the fore going that the camera-box may be instantly reversed, adjusted, and held in any desired :00

without changing the position of the legs of the stand on which the camera apparatus is mounted.

I do not limit or confine myself to the precise construction and arrangement of any of the parts herein described, as they may be varied without departing from my invention. For example, the circular support G, instead of being made in the form of a hoop, as here shown, may consist of wood made solid in the form of segments of a circle and attached directly to the sides of the camera-box".

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A photographic eamera-box capable of a'ljustment while attached to its support, to dispose its greater axis either in a horizontal or a vertical plane, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A photographic camera-box made with a Vertically-arranged circular support adapted to permit the vertical rotation of the camera, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The combination,with a cameiabox, of a circular support, G, or its equivalent, substantially as described, to facilitate the rotation and leveling of the camera-box, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the camera, its slide, and its circular support, of a clamping device to hold and lock the camera in any desired position, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. In a photographic camera, the clamp ll, having the central open recess and the curved end grooves, the bimling-screw 71, slide Brand curved or circular support G, attached to the camera-box, substantiz'tlly as and for the purpose sct forth.

(5. The circular support G, constructed in the form of a hoop, and adapted for attachment to the camera-box, substz'mtia-lly as described.

7. The combination of the circular support G with the corners f 71 of the camera-box, substantially as shown and described.

LIDRASTUS B. BARKER.

W itnesses:

EDGA a Tarn, .losnri 1' ll. ll'IULLIGA x. 

